Hawks upbeat despite another close loss

EAGLEHAWK premiership co-coach Travis Matheson is confident that a couple of close losses in the first five rounds of the BFNL season will have no bearing on the Hawks’ long-term prospects.

For the second time in as many matches, the Hawks last Saturday found themselves on the wrong end of an arm-wrestle in a 7-point loss to Strathfieldsaye at Canterbury Park.

It came on the back of a 17-point loss to South Bendigo at the QEO on Anzac Day in which scores were level at three-quarter time and the Hawks were still a winning chance in time-on.

Coming off a break in between games against the Storm, Matheson was left to rue some missed opportunities in the second half by the Hawks.

But far from disappointed, given his side’s unsettling injury run early in the season, the Hawks coach’s thoughts are on the long-term.

“It was an ugly game of football for most of it,” Matheson said.

“It was similar to last game (against South Bendigo), we had a period of time where we had opportunities, but we just weren’t able to finish it off.

“It’s going to be one of those ones this year, when you get your little window in a game, you must take it.

“I spoke to the boys after the game … I remember in 2019 we were coming off the back of a flag and we lost three games in the first five rounds and found ourselves in an identical situation.

“I think it will be one of those seasons, if we are good enough, it won’t matter.”

The Hawks made it all the way to the grand final that season, eventually coming up 14 points short of the Storm.

There is nothing to suggest that the Hawks won’t be there when the whips are cracking, particularly in a season adorned with close finishes.

Two of three games last weekend were decided by 7 points or less, with Gisborne prevailing by a solitary point against Castlemaine, while only 2 points and 7 points respectively separated the Bulldogs and South Bendigo in round 2 and Bloods and Storm in round 1.

The upside of the Hawks’ 2-3 record is that they have been in every game at three quarter time.

“We are not getting blown away, we’re just a little bit rusty at times, and it’s taking us a bit of time to get into games,” Matheson said.

“We just need a bit of continuity with our list and with guys out on the park to get to know each other.

“Time hopefully will heal a few issues.”

The Hawks welcomed back Charlie Langford, Jack Donat, Callum Heath and Lewin Davis against the Storm.

“It was a massive positive they all got through without getting injured,” Matheson said.

“We probably underestimated a bit how it would be bringing that many into the team and then gelling. It did take about half a game before that happened.

“Hopefully we can roll a couple more back in next week and start to build a bit of momentum.”

Matheson praised a ‘sensational’ effort from Jonty Neaves, while the ever-reliable Billy Evans and Noah Wheeler, ruckman Callum Heath, Oscar White and Nick Hoare did their best to lift the Hawks, who trailed at one stage in the third term by 25 points.

The road ahead for the Hawks gets no easier with Gisborne on the road, but with Jack O’Shannessy, Dylan Hanley and Connor Evans all a chance of returning to the line-up.